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Assignment 1: Writing Descriptive Paragraphs

Sections in Assignment 1
Prewriting | Discussion | Writing Descriptive Paragraphs | Rubric | Student Examples |Back to Assignment 1

A paragraph is a group of sentences, generally from 8 to 10, which develop a single topic. Writers use paragraphs as a means of organizing information on a page.  The beginning of a new paragraph signals to the reader an introduction of a new idea.  Paragraphing is really a writer's tool used to package ideas on a page so as to better communicate with the reader.

A well-written paragraph is unified, coherent, and complete.

bulletUnified -- all of the sentences in the paragraph develop one idea, contained in the topic sentence;
bulletCoherent --the sentences are in a logical, understandable order and smoothly integrated;
bulletComplete -- enough facts, details, examples, quotations of authorities, and reasons to support the topic sentence are included to adequately develop the topic.

Paragraphs begin with a topic sentence which summarizes the single topic, or main idea, expressed in the paragraph. The remaining sentences of the paragraph explain and develop this idea or topic. Some paragraphs conclude with a restatement of the main idea, but this is not always necessary. 

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